Bossier City to Simmesport is 177.5 miles and takes about 3h 23m via Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and LA 1, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a route that is mostly surface roads, so plan for a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate drive. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this is a straightforward option for a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.8 miles from Bossier City, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
125.4 mi
2h 8m
LA 1
38.7 mi
53m
Highway 3170
3.9 mi
5m
US 71
3.6 mi
4m
State Route 3170
1.6 mi
2m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.4 mi
2m
US 167
1 mi
1m
Riverside Drive
0.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 125.4 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bossier City, LA and Simmesport, LA.
1
Start on Monroe Street
78 ft·4 sec·Monroe Street
2
Turn right onto Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi·32 sec·Barksdale Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
4
Merge onto I 20; US 71
1.4 mi·2 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
6
Continue on I 49
125 mi·2 hr 8 min·Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit onto US 167; US 71 BYP
1.0 mi·1 min·US 167; US 71 BYP
Toward US 71 South, US 167 South
8
Turn straight onto US 71; US 167
3.6 mi·4 min·US 71; US 167
9
Turn left onto LA 3170
3.9 mi·5 min·Highway 3170
10
Continue on LA 3170
1.6 mi·2 min·State Route 3170
11
At end of road, turn right onto LA 1
39 mi·53 min·LA 1
12
Turn left onto North Martin Luther King
305 ft·11 sec·North Martin Luther King
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Riverside Drive
0.5 mi·2 min·Riverside Drive
14
Turn left onto Fisherman Drive
0.1 mi·30 sec·Fisherman Drive
15
Arrive at destination
Fisherman Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 23m estimated drive time, departing in the morning from Bossier City will give you plenty of time to reach Simmesport before evening. With only one recommended stop and a modest fuel cost of around $25, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before departing the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, as services might be more spread out on the subsequent surface roads. This is a drive that can easily be completed in a single day, so you can adjust your departure time based on your morning plans.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 88.8 miles from Bossier City, LA, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 39 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.8 miles or 1h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Simmesport, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bossier City, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bossier City, LA
This is one driving day of about 177.5 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Bossier City, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 125.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 176.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Barksdale Boulevard
Turn right onto Barksdale Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 49 South: Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
5
128.1 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|US 167; US 71 BYP
Take the exit onto US 167; US 71 BYP toward US 71 South, US 167 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 71 South, US 167 South
4
132.6 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|LA 3170 / Highway 3170
Turn left onto LA 3170 / Highway 3170
Navigation decision point
6
176.8 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|North Martin Luther King
Turn left onto North Martin Luther King
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.64 one way
$49.28 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$27.57
$55.14
premium
$4.29
$29.97
$59.94
diesel
$4.80
$33.52
$67.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.3
0
$18.64
$8.52
Efficient EV
44.4
0
$15.53
$7.10
EV Truck/SUV
71
0
$24.85
$11.36
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Bossier City, LA
Morning
in Bossier City on Sunday
Local time
6:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
SW 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:15PM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Simmesport, LA
Morning
in Simmesport on Sunday
Local time
6:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
W 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:15PM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
96°F
Natchez, LA
89 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 23m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cane River Creole National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Cane River region is home to a unique culture; the Creoles. Generations of the same families of workers, enslaved and tenant, and owners lived on these lands for over 200 years. The park tells the...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 79.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 27% on highways, with the longest stretch of continuous highway driving being 125.4 miles on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. After this highway segment, you'll transition to surface roads, primarily on LA 1 and Highway 3170. You'll notice the shift from higher-speed highway cruising to more frequent intersections and local traffic as you approach your destination.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125.4 mi on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Barksdale Boulevard.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bossier City, LA to Simmesport, LA is easy. At 3h 23m with 27% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Barksdale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 128.1 miles (US 167; US 71 BYP): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Bossier City is the second-largest city in Northern Louisiana and the largest city in Bossier Parish. Home to Barksdale Air Force Base, which hosts several Air Force commands, as well as the backup landing site of Air Force One, Bossier City's recent history revolves largely around the U.S. military. In addition, most of the casinos in the Ark-La-Tex (the three-states region where Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas intersect) are within the corporate limits of Bossier City.
Top landmarks
•Bossier High School — high school in Bossier City, Louisiana, United States
Simmesport is a rural town at the far eastern edge of Avoyelles Parish. This town is in the River Parishes region of Louisiana, near the confluence of the Mississippi, Atchafalaya, and Red Rivers. The nearby area of Yellow Bayou was the site of the final battle in the American Civil War's Red River Campaign of 1864.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 125.4 miles on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Barksdale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 128.1 miles (US 167; US 71 BYP): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Simmesport, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
